ARTIS’ own Stephen Millington recently presented at theEuradh 2016 conference in Glasgow, detailing work carried out at ARTIS looking at the development and assessment of adhesive systems for “Bond & Bolt” gas pipe saddles.

LeahRitchens appointed Development Scientist for ARTIS. Leah has been Materials Analyst with ARTIS since its inception and has a long history with Avon prior to that. Joined Avon over 20 years ago as a trainee and has worked in protection for some of that time in the lab facility.

Stephen Millington of ARTIS has been elected Vice-Chairman of the Society for Adhesion and Adhesives (SAA). The science and technology of adhesion and adhesives is an exceedingly active field and the UK has a long and distinguished history and a continuing high reputation.

ARTIS Chief Scientist Martyn Bennett was nominated by Avon Rubber Chief Executive Peter Slabbert to collect the Prince Philip Award, at a presentation event held at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

ARTIS proudly opened its new facility to allow ageing of materials in extreme chemical and thermal environments. The facility contains autoclave vessels to allow testing of elastomeric and thermoplastic materials in sour gas environments following the procedures outlined in the relevant standards, such as NORSOK M-710 and ISO 23936, but with a view of offering a flexible service to accommodate the clients desired test conditions.

ARTIS has commissioned its second servo hydraulic test machine extending the capability for dynamic testing in the group. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) enables evaluation of the effects of temperature, strain, frequency and exposure to liquids or gases on the dynamic properties of your material.

ARTIS held a tabletop exhibition at the ITF showcase in Aberdeen, this is a key event for the oil and gas industry consisting of a conference and exhibition. The ITF is a major industry organisation, hosting events and organising joint industry projects for the key players.

ARTIS attended the Fluid sealing conference in Manchester in March 2016. This was an international meeting featuring lectures from participants around the globe covering all aspects of sealing technology. In particular sessions were focused on Mechanical seals, reciprocating seals, surface effects, leakage and emissions, static seals and elastomers in extreme environments. There were over 35 different participating companies from China to US, EU and UK and everywhere in between

ARTIS Chief Scientist, Martyn Bennett, has been awarded the Hancock Medal by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. The Award will presented at the annual awards ceremony at the IOM3 headquarters in London in November.

Following the closure of the Zeon Chemicals plant at Barry in South Wales ARTIS has acquired several new pieces of equipment including a new FID GC with thermal desorbing station, Ion chromatography capability, a new UV spectroscope, and microwave furnace.

ARTIS Chief Scientist Martyn Bennett has been invited to join the BSI committee PR/22 on rubber testing to contribute knowledge and experience of himself and the ARTIS team to the development of British Standards for the industry.

ARTIS’ own Dr Chris Norris recently presented at the Manchester Polymer Group meeting on the 16th of May, detailing work carried out at ARTIS looking at the Composition and Property changes of HNBR and FKM Elastomers after Sour Gas Ageing.